The NFL is officially back, with the Seattle Seahawks taking down the New England Patriots on Wednesday night. However, that also means we’ve got injury news to deal with ahead of the rest of Week 1.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown both received updates on the injuries that forced them to depart Wednesday’s game early on Thursday. Meanwhile, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured during drills ahead of the team’s practice, putting his status for the team’s Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in doubt.
Here’s what you should know about what happened around the league on Thursday.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was set to make his first start with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, but his availability for their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is now in question.
Tagovailoa suffered discomfort during individual throwing drills on Thursday and briefly went to the ground. While he dealt with a lower back injury early in training camp, this latest discomfort is tied to an oblique issue, NFL Network reported. Tagovailoa is reportedly day-to-day.
If Tagovailoa is sidelined, Cooper Rush will be next in line to start Sunday’s game for the Falcons. He told reporters he took first-team reps on Thursday after Tagovailoa went down. Michael Penix Jr. still hasn’t been cleared to participate in full-contact drills.
Rush has spent the majority of his career with the Dallas Cowboys and even started several games last season for the Baltimore Ravens. Across 42 career appearances, Rush has completed 61.1% of his passes for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold took an early sack against the New England Patriots and left the game with a hip injury, but he appears to have dodged a bullet. MRI results came back positive, ruling out any major structural damage, according to ESPN. However, his timetable is still to be determined, The Ringer reported.
After Darnold went down, Drew Lock stepped in and rallied Seattle from a 10-point deficit to secure the win. If Darnold misses time, Lock will take the reins starting in Week 2, when the Seahawks head to Arizona to face the Cardinals.
With the win over the Patriots behind them and the Cardinals up next, all attention now shifts to Darnold. While his exact recovery timeline remains unknown, the Seahawks must prepare to navigate the coming weeks with their starting quarterback’s status in question.
After leaving early in the second half against the Seahawks, Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown appears to have avoided a major injury. According to NFL Network, Brown suffered a high ankle sprain and avoided a fracture in his right ankle.
Brown’s ankle was rolled up on when he ran a slant route in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Seahawks, and he struggled to walk after the play. He left the game, did not return, and was later seen leaving the stadium in a walking boot on his right foot.
The timeline for Brown’s return is unknown, as high ankle sprains can require a lengthy recovery. Signs point toward a multi-week absence, with typical recovery ranging from two to six weeks, and the Patriots are expected to take a cautious approach.
Between being limited last night and leaving early with the injury, Brown put up a light stat line. He was targeted four times by quarterback Drake Maye, finishing with three receptions for 26 yards prior to his exit.
After a training camp scare, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is officially cleared for Sunday’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters that Jeanty is a full participant and ready to play.
If Jeanty is ready to play, his first test will come against a revamped Dolphins defense led by new head coach Jeff Hafley. He ran for 975 yards on 3.7 yards as a rookie in 2025, scoring 10 total touchdowns. Fourth-round rookie Mike Washington is Jeanty’s backup if the second-year running back has any flare-ups.
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